ASOS reveal the hottest fashion trends of 2021

From the rise of double denim and mini-skirts to the death of skinny jeans, it’s been impossible to ignore the impact Y2K style has had on the fashion landscape this year. 

Shoppers’ love for all things ’90s and early 2000s has been confirmed by the ASOS Annual Trends report, which reveals exactly what Britons have been buying in 2021 – and predicts the styles that will be popular next year.

Floral, botanical and psychedelic prints took centre stage this year as customers looked for uplifting clothes to raise their spirits during difficult months. 

The lifting of lockdown restrictions sparked a surge in the sale of black trousers as people returned to the office. 

When it comes to trousers, skinny jeans were nowhere to be scene and instead have been replaced with straight or bootleg cuts, dramatic flared trousers or baggy sportswear. 

However glamour was also on the cards this year, with Brits keen to dress up in killer heels and stylish jumpsuits to party after spending months in and out of lockdown. 

90s-MANIA   

The 1990s and noughties look caught fire in 2021 and will continue to be influential over the next 12 months, according to the annual ASOS Trends Report.

They are a particular hit with fashionistas in their teens and early 20s, who didn’t get to experience the styles first time around. 

This tribe of Y2K fashionistas are led by modern fashion icons like Bella Hadid and Dua Lipa, who have championed 90s classics like handkerchief tops, exposed thongs and double denim.  

Women were stepping out in cargo pants, mini skirts, low-rise jeans and ‘double denim’, sales figures revealed.

SKINNY JEANS ARE OUT

The standout style of trousers this year was flares – with 446,000 pairs flying from the ASOS shelves. Pictured, Olivia Wilde wearing mustard yellow flares in California this month 

When it comes to trousers, skin-tight cuts very much fell out of fashion this year, with shoppers opting for dramatic flares, mom jeans or stylish wide leg culottes instead. 

Shoppers purchased over 200,000 pairs of baggy skater and cargo jeans. But the standout style of trousers this year was flares – with 446,000 pairs sold.

The return to the office in the second half of the year also had an impact on our wardrobes. ASOS reported a 30 per cent uptick in the sale of black trousers.    

BAGGY UNISEX CLOTHES  

Research from the brand showed that a quarter of 18-35 year-olds planned on wearing baggy clothing in the new year. Pictured, Billie Eilish wearing baggy sportswear this year 

Research from the brand showed that a  quarter of 18-35 year-olds planned on wearing baggy clothing in the new year while a fifth will be going for big and bold colours. 

This is a continuation from 2021 where oversized styles accounted for 60 per cent of male jersey tops sales and there was a 135 per cent increase in the number of women’s flares sold. 

And the award for the most searched ASOS brand goes to Collusion, a sustainable, vegan, unisex brand with inclusive sizing. 

JUMPSUITS AND KILLER HEELS  

The end of lockdown this year was marked with a huge rise in the sale of jumpsuits – with mesh growing in popularity in the summer months until super-soft velvet became the star of autumn/winter. 

British shoppers were ready to celebrate come July with a pair of party heels selling every 13 seconds throughout the month. 

WEDDING TRENDS 

Shoppers seemed to take inspiration from the wedding gown worn by Carrie Johnson who hired her £2,870 wedding dress by designer Christos Costarellos for just £45 from MyWardrobeHQ when she married Boris Johnson in May

With a flurry of weddings delayed in 2020 going ahead this year, it’s no surprise that 1.5 million bride and bridesmaid dresses were sold on the platform. 

The most popular dress on the platform was the Iris, a long sleeve lace bodice maxi wedding dress with a pleated skirt which sold 15,000 times. 

Shoppers seemed to take inspiration from the wedding gown worn by Carrie Johnson who hired her £2,870 wedding dress by designer Christos Costarellos for just £45 from MyWardrobeHQ when she married Boris Johnson in May. 

When it came to the wedding party, sage green was the colour of choice for bridesmaids and in the UK shoppers purchased 100,000 complete suits, with sales of formal shoes up 80 per cent. 

HALTERNECKS TO TREND IN 2022

With 37,437% more searches for ‘halter tops’, shoulder-baring halterneck tops were huge on ASOS Marketplace this year. Pictured, Miley Cyrus wearing a halterneck jumpsuit in Los Angeles 

With 37,437 per cent more searches for ‘halter tops’, shoulder-baring halterneck tops were huge on ASOS Marketplace this year, and are predicted to have a major moment in 2022, too.  

‘We’re also going to see 00s trends have a revival next year, so expect low rise jeans, double denim and mini-skirts to feature in lots of edits’, said Vanessa Spence, ASOS Commercial Design and Visual Director. 

‘If you need inspiration after living lockdown in muted colours, pop bright colours were seen across all the catwalks in the recent shows so are going to be huge in 2022.’